Thanks for the advice - I'm puttin an order in next week. I think I will give them a try. |
I am also a satisfied Kevin Deal (Upscale Audio) customer. I have been buying tubes and taking Kevin's advice for close to 20 years now. I have never been steered wrong, nor never had any problems.
IMHO, he's one of the good guys. |
Another satisfied Upscale Audio customer. Kevin and his staff provide outstanding customer service. |
I got tubes from him in the past and also my CAD-500B monoblocks. Always a pleasure and I too recommend him highly. |
Thanks for your note of recommendation for Upscale Audio; we need to support the good guys. Be sure to put this info on US audiomart and also Sound Offer web sites and start doing business there. This site stinks now and the arrogant owners won't listen to the members. Let's vote with our dollars and move. |
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I too have had excellent experience with Upscale Audio. I have bought tubes as well as my Amp (Cary SLI-80F1) from them and have been very satisfied with my purchases.
Chuck |
One more "Thumbs Up(scale)" for Kevin. I've done a lot of business with him over the years and have always had a great experience - which is, I guess, why I keep going back.
Marty |
I also have nothing but good to say about UA. |
Another vote for Kevin at Upscale, got my Primaluna 1 there, a real no hassle excellent experience. |
I bought a matched octet of 6550's for my ARC VT100 Mk II from Kevin a few years ago. I was also very satisfied with the experience, but subsequently Upscale announced they would no longer sell tubes for this particular amp. I am not sure where I will go the next time this amp needs re-tubing. I'm thinking of going with KT120s, but I dread paying $100 each from ARC. Any other VT100 MkII owners care to comment on this thread? |
Yep, Kevin rules! Happy component and tube customer for many moons. |
Mabonn, just a guess here, but I think it may be because the VT100 Mk II may not be user friendly when it comes to biasing the tubes. I've read somewhere that the bias pots are very close to some high voltage rails or contacts. If my surmise is correct, it's possible that Kevin may not sell you the KT-120s either for safety reasons. I know that he stocks both types of tubes. Btw, Kevin charges $90 for a pair of KT-120s, less than half the ARC price.
You should call him to see what the story is. Please report back. If Gary (Hifigeek) catches this post, perhaps he can weigh in about whether an electronics tech should install and bias the power tubes in a VT100 Mk II. |
The reason ARC doesn't want those tubes in that series of amp is because that tube is mounted horizontally. Output tube sockets can become loose over time. It's less of an issue when the tube is mounted vertically. Because the KT-120 is taller, and heavier then it's 6550 brethren, it is far more prone to sagging in it's socket and losing contact with the socket. Thereby causing it to arc, damaging both the tube and surrounding circuit components. |
*06-25-12: Bifwynne
Mabonn, just a guess here, but I think it may be because the VT100 Mk II may not be user friendly when it comes to biasing the tubes. I've read somewhere that the bias pots are very close to some high voltage rails or contacts.*
Good guess. I got a helluva shock when I was biasing the tubes on the VT100 Mk II I owned once, & I was being extremely careful. Just seemed very dangerous, all around. |
Gary (Hifigeek) -- is Steveaudio's experience a rare occurrence with the VT100, or is my general recollection re installing and biasing power tubes in the VT100 on point. More to the point, as an ARC authorized tech, would you recomend that only someone who knows his/her way with electronics repairs handle a retube? |
Bifwynne. Well obviously being someone who services ARC under warranty I'm a bit biased. Did I just say that? There are quite a few ARC amps that I don't recommend people re-tube and bias unless the bias voltage points are outside the amp away from high voltage traces. These amps run at around 400Vdc and pack quite a wallop as Steve found out! Imagine someone with a weak heart or an unsteady hand, or improper test probes attempting to set bias. All it takes is one slip, and a trace can blow right off the circuit board and leave a crater in the board just for starters. Is paying for a few hours of labor worth that kind of dangerous exposure? I leave it to each person to answer that. |
conrad-johnson supplies an all plastic screwdriver (just a thin plastic rod with the ends flattened) to use in biasing its power tubes. Would something like this solve the problem? |
If I recall, Keven said he would not sell tubes for VT100 Mk II amps because of the design. He did not specify electrical design or physical design. I have re-biased this amp and I understand the dangers. I trust myself to do it without shocking myself. Perhaps I need to talk to Kevin in more detail to find out what his actual concerns are. |
Gary (Hifigeek) is right on as usual. I own an ARC VS-115 amp which has bias test jacks OUTSIDE the amp. The ARC supplied plastic screw-driver thingy is a very safe tool to use to access the bias pots. I bought the metal screen tube cage, but will NOT pull the top panel that covers the works in order to screw the cage on. I rest the cage on top without screwing it on just to protect the tubes from an accident. It's just too damn dangerous to expose the electronics!
I just re-tubed my Ref 5 and VS-115 using Kevin's tubes. The old tubes from the Ref 5 and VS-115 had over 3000 hours on them. Major, major improvement!! |
Regarding using the KT120 tubes in VT 100 amp. As some of the responders of the OP will remember I have just changed over from 6550 to the KT120s. (check older posts from about a month ago). Got them from tube depot here in Canada, but they also ship to USA. They are indeed a heavier tube and overall more robust construction, but fit well in the amp with enough clearances all around and very easy to bias. After a few days burn in, they sound very nice and I'm pleased. The horizontal mounting issue may be valid but I don't think so really. The socket pins on this amp are TIGHT. Also, they seem to run a little cooler but that might just be my imagination.... |
In addition, the front end tubes (6922) should be replaced every other time the output tubes are replaced. Set up after new tubes are installed is a royal pain and the tubes MUST come from ARC in order to set the front end up properly for lowest distortion. I don't set up the front end of Mk1's and MK2's unless I get the tubes from ARC. Mk3's use a different circuit topology. |
Gary (Hifigeek), quick Q re 6922 tubes. I own an ARC PH-7 phono pre, which uses four (4) 6922 tubes in the audio section. After how many hours of use shoulod those tubes be replaced?? I have heard various views of 6922 tube life in that application ranging from 4K to 10K hours. |
It should say in your owners manual. I think 10K is a bit high. Possibly 6-7K? |
Has anyone re-tubed a CAT JL3 Signature (KT120) from Upscale Audio?
I live in Sydney, Australia and I ordered a CAT SL1 Ren 5 months ago and haven't received it as yet. I don't want to think how long it will take to get 32 matched KT120 tubes. I would very much appreciate it if anyone could provide any feedback with regards to re-tubing CAT JL3 Sig from sources other than Ken Stevens's Convergent Audio.
Cheers,
Raz |
Whatever ! that Kevin guy is no angel, years ago i went to an audio show and stopped by his booth and listened to his stuff. He convinced me that those glowing things on the PL amps will change my view on solid state high tech modern amps forever. And that the Sonus Faber Liuto was a great match for those ancient artifacts of the past.
Then the audio hell began as i had to purchase them for local upstart dealers who never hooked them PLs up or even the SF liuto, so i was thinking they were crap for sure and maybe "Uncle Kev" was using million dollar connects and spk wires or some special sauce that made those things glow brighter urging you to head towards the light, Shamonic deer stuff for sure. as they were just sitting there collecting dust. All them made in China stuff always shines really bright before blowing up right?
So since i was there i was introduced to some really nice looking NAIM gear , which suited my wifes modern styling, and super cool looking USA built Anthony Gallo strada speakers with a REL sub that was looking wicked and made the sound larger than life, such detail and transparency, plastic was coming out.
But still looking like a deer in headlights, and remembering that bewitching glow and thinking that no way the republicans can stop the massive steamrollin economy of the US i decided to live it up and buy the lot.
fast forward 8-10 years later, HEGEL , AYON, DEVIALET, NAIM, YAMAHA, MICROMEGA NUMEROUS BIG BRAND Speakers, All collecting Dust and looking purrty, with the garage looking like speaker graveyard from hell, I kept going back to them glowing lights.
What kind of man destroys ones hobby in search of AudioNirvana !!!!
why kill my flamboyant money spending thrills with just 1 stroke.
But Alas i will have the last laugh soon, in this terrible nightmare of things that glow in the dark, i can see a replacement that might finally take the pole position of this long nightmare of glowing lights.
My system that i always come back to after all these years PL mono 7s , sonus faber liuto, and in 2010 called up upscale for a replacement pre amp as the older PL POS 3 which i had listened for years, going back and forth to up and lower the volume had no remote !! WTH what was i thinking, asked uncle Kev between Manley Jumbo and PL pre Dialogue, he had the audacity to suggest the PL prologue Premium Pre , a step down, which at the time was only like a couple hundred less than the top of the line Dialogue, stating that it was good enough for me, and it offered system synergy, and with that saved cash to git some tubes at a later date as the Economy under the Bush wasnt looking good.
Opps back to the replacement , i truly belive now that the only upgrade is another PL HP amp , and again will this be another waste of money as that China POS is still running strong and has never burnt out a tube and somehow they all are going strong- witchcraft for sure as what burns and never dies??? PL GEAR FOR SURE!
THANKS UPSCALE ! |
I am getting ready to purchase a PL from UA. I've Ben writing the store numerous times. Each time, I get a quick response with all the info I'm looking for. The pre sale customer servic
e has been wonderful. Now , I need to get that amp ordered |
I like Kevins videos, and that he rides a bike (the kind with a motor ;-). A down-to-earth guy, devoid of high-end snobbishness. |
Kevin D and UA are the cream of the crop to me. Great personal service and he treats his customers very well. If there is ever a problem Kevin handles it personally until it is settled. I have bought from UA many times and will continue to do so. |
I live just a short distance from Upscale Audio but have never been to the store. Based on such glowing reviews, I'll stop by UA. |
I would call them DOWN Scale audio. Bought a very expensive pair of 6H30 ARC selected from them, try them for 400 hours and sound flat compare to my 4000 hours tube I had before. I try to join them and never get answered, Get better result from tube store or ebay, not shure they match and select tube as they said. I would not recommended them as tube reseller... |
